Former Everton midfielder Li Tie has been sentenced to 20 years in pr!son in China due to corruption charges, having accepted more than £12 million in bribes.
The 47-year-old, who represented China during their sole World Cup appearance in 2002, admitted to engaging in bribery and match-fixing between 2015 and 2021, according to reports from Chinese state media.
This sentencing is part of a broader anti-corruption initiative within Chinese football, which has seen numerous coaches and players under investigation.
After retiring from professional play in 2011, Li transitioned into coaching, starting his managerial career with Hebei China Fortune in 2015. He later became the head coach of the Chinese national team, first serving as a caretaker and eventually being appointed to the position permanently.
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The court revealed that during Li’s tenure as national team manager, from 2015 to 2021, he accepted bribes totaling over $16 million (£12.7 million). These illicit payments were allegedly made in exchange for favoring specific players in team selection and manipulating match outcomes.
In a documentary aired on state media channel CCTV earlier this year, Li expressed remorse for his involvement in the scandal, stating, “I’m very sorry. I should have kept my head down and followed the right path. There were certain things that were considered common practices in football at that time.”
This news follows the sentencing of Chen Xuyuan, the former head of the Chinese Football Association, who received a life sentence for bribery.
Li began his football career in China with Liaoning before moving to England on loan to join Everton, following his impressive performance during the World Cup in 2002. In his first season, he made 33 appearances as Everton finished seventh in the Premier League under manager David Moyes. Although his loan was eventually made permanent, persistent injuries limited his playtime in subsequent seasons, leading him to transfer to Sheffield United in 2006, where he made only one competitive appearance before returning to China in 2008.
